Docs amputate leg of key Atlanta trial witness

ATLANTA - A key witness in the trial of a man charged in the killing of an Atlanta bartender had his leg amputated after an attack that worried prosecutors.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said Wednesday the witness was shot over the weekend while working on a car, days before Jonathan Redding was set to go on trial on charges he killed John Henderson in January 2009.

The trial was pushed back one month.

Howard said police are investigating whether the shooting was connected to the murder trial, but added "it doesn't take a fool to see this is quite a coincidence."

It was at least the third time in the last four months where witnesses in cases against violent gangs had been attacked.